Blossom

Blossom loves plants and flowers. She has grown up surrounded by them both at home and on her parents’ family market stall, passed down by her much-loved, dearly departed grandparents, Tutu and Pops.

Blossom’s favourite plant is Tutu Plant, her special aloe vera, given into her care by her grandmother shortly before she passed away and Blossom likes to talk to the plant as she would have previously done to her Grandma Tutu. During the school holidays, Blossom gets to help her parents run the stall and every day she takes Tutu Plant along with her.

Since her grandparents died there have been many changes to her family’s daily lives, but Blossom is becoming more aware of the growing tension between her parents over keeping the stall going and the toll it is taking on their relationship since they inherited the stall. Blossom’s Mum is trying to complete her university course, while her Dad needs her help to keep things going.

Will Blossom be able to come up with a solution to keep the market stall in the family and still ensure her parents’ happiness?

This latest title for young readers from acclaimed author Laura Dockrill is another heart-warming and charming tale, immediately drawing you into the warm community of the market, with its array of vibrant and colourful characters as seen through the eyes of young Blossom. You can feel the love and affection that the stallholders have for Blossom and the sense of family amongst them.

Laura Dockrill has the enviable talent of being able to turn her hand to pretty much any form of writing, as her variety of titles show, switching easily between her picture books, poetry and prose.

As always Barrington Stoke’s dyslexia-friendly layout and font, with inspired illustrations from Sarah Ogilvie, makes it accessible for most readers.

Although not a long tale, Blossom’s story left this reader with a warm glow and a smile on my face.